Page 36 of Loving Lizzy

“Hey Princess, did you finish at Lizzy’s? I’ll leave in another thirty minutes. Emma and I planned on making dinner.”

“I appreciate the thought. I’m coming to pick up Em and hope to catch you at the hospital. Do you think we can eat dinner there?”

He paused, “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know yet. Maybe you can shed some light on a few things, and we can come up with a plan,” she told him as she rounded the bend to the mountain.

“Are we planning or plotting?” Chase chuckled.

“It all depends. We’ll see you soon. Oh, can you ask Leo to pop over? It might help to get his perspective.”

“Will do, sweetheart. Be careful and I can’t wait to see you and Ladybug.” He disconnected the call.

* * *

Michael watchedKassie get into her car and turn toward the mountain before he quietly clicked the door shut.

He read as Lizzy rested. Ty came and left after delivering a mouthwatering steak, a baked potato, and tossed salad for him. He added the grilled chicken salad Lizzy always ordered with extra balsamic dressing. He included a bowl of creamy potato soup and crackers. Two brownies with separate bowls of ice cream and strawberries sat in the other bag. Michael placed the ice cream in the freezer and the strawberries in the fridge with Lizzy’s food.

He glanced at his watch; she didn’t stir. The bath must’ve taken more out of her than he imagined. At least she rested peacefully. A few minutes later his phone dinged with a text from Chase.

Checking in. Bryanna offered to stay with Lizzy tomorrow evening. Team meeting at the building. Thought you might like a tour.

Thanks. Getting my patient files in order while Lizzy rests. Maybe next time.

Michael replied.

Three dots appeared and disappeared.

An hour later another text dinged his phone. This time the message came from Leo.

Team meeting tomorrow. You’re required to attend. Bryanna will come over after she closes the bakery at fifteen hundred.

Michael frowned. Maybe he’d tell Leo he resigned when he got there. They didn’t really use him, and they already started searching for a new corpsman to go on missions. Lately, they stayed local to help the Seattle Task Force with a few investigations. With Catherine expecting and Saint finding out about his daughter, he guessed Leo wanted to keep operations close. They still searched for Kassie’s former patient José and their teammate Ragu, who’d been unjustly charged with drug possession. The team stepped up their search and felt they’d gotten close a few times before something spooked the two missing men. He sighed and began reading his e-book. He found a selection of stories from a woman’s point of view, hoping to understand Lizzy’s emotions.

“Something smells divine. Did you cook dinner, already?” Lizzy slightly stretched before rising from the chair.

“Ty brought over dinner. He left his famous grilled chicken salad for you and dessert. I ate earlier while you slept.” Lizzy nodded and Michael stood to get her food.

“I must’ve left my phone in the bedroom. I’ll get it while you’re preparing my meal. What time is it?” She removed her blanket and steadily went down the hall to retrieve her device.

“It’s twenty thirty,” he called out to her as she passed the kitchen. Michael warmed up the meat, placed it on the salad and set it on a tray. He finished putting the boxes and bags in recycling at the same time she came around the corner.

“I didn’t realize I slept late. The chicken smells wonderful even from the bedroom.” She pinched a piece from her plate and hummed in appreciation.

“Go sit down and I’ll bring the tray,” he directed her as he picked up the food.

Lizzy settled in the chair and placed the pillow in front of her chest. She smiled as she peered down and noticed he cut up her food into small portions to keep her from struggling with cutting it with a knife.

“Thank you. Sit down and tell me about your day. Did you get everything from the office?” She pierced some of the greens and chewed as Michael told her about the new doctor replacing him.

When he finished, a silence filled the room while she continued to eat. She noticed he kept glancing at her plate. She rolled her eyes.

“I drank an entire smoothie which I’m sure she added to the log. Can we pretend you’re not my doctor and act like two normal people carrying on a conversation?”

Michael put his phone down on the coffee table. “Shall we start with you explaining why you took your bandages off this early? We’re finishing up the first week and your instructions said to keep them wrapped. I wanted to be here to support you,” his voice showed his disappointment.

“I told you I wanted to do it myself,” she mumbled and laid down her fork. Her hands folded in her lap.

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